Thinking of starting a gunsmithing career

[Gerbil boy]

Hi I am just asking what step would you take if you started all over again. I have an extensive background in machine work (over 10 years in a couple small job type machine shops) and I am a certified tig and arc welder (not that the last one is helpful in gunsmithing). I am currently a mechanic/welder for a construction company. I've been in repair mechanical type work my whole life and grew up on a farm. I keep everyone in my neighborhood's guns running and help work loads for everyone's rifle. I have several friends that are gunsmiths. I don't really have time to go to Colorado for a couple year course. I was thinking of taking a couple classes in N.C. I plan on a new 16x40 Grizzly lathe, a good used knee mill and some metal working machines. I've got a lot of tooling and tools and a decent sized shop. I know I can do a lot of the work but would have to buy some specialized tools. My local gunshop said they have a real need for a local smith. Does the NRA offer an insurance like they do for ranges?. This has been weighing heavily in my head for the past couple years. thanks for any help

 

[savagedasher]

I would get your FFL and insurance and try it but keep your day job . Larry

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Yeah not a lot of profit when starting out and very expensive to get tooled up with everything you need.

If your gunsmithing reputation becomes renowned one day, the money will start to flow a lot better, but a small town local smith doesn't make a killing for a living unless he has orders coming in from around the country

 

[Cold Bore]

Gotta agree with LS above.

There's just not much money to be made by a new 'smith with no reputation or following, and a big upfront starting cost unless all you plan on doing is mounting and boresighting scopes.

It's a bad combination of plug-n-play guns, and a shooting populace that either thinks they can watch a YouTube video to do the work themselves, or will just throw a gun away to buy a new one.

A lot of new firearms are almost "disposable" that way, at a price point where it doesn't make sense to work on or fix them.

At the other end of the scale, a lot of BR shooters either do their own work, or have somebody they already use and trust, making it very hard for the casual small town guy to break in to the field.

Despite having a bunch of like-minded individuals on a forum like this where we talk custom stuff all day long, the vast majority of the shooting public won't pay what a good gunsmith's time is worth.

Nothing personal, but lots of guys who "work on all my buddies' guns" think they can just hang a sign on their garage, go into business, and will be backlogged with work. The reality is that if you either aren't willing, or don't have the time, to take a full blown course, and then spend time interning while you hone your skills along with building your name and credentials, you are going to find it very difficult to even pay the bills, let alone make a living. There's a huge difference between a hobby and a career.

 

[Ggmac]

More money and less liability being a plumber .
The paperwork , licensing , insurance , tooling will be a drain on your income . The hair on your head will quickly change color or fall out . The stress of dealing with all the paperwork is much more difficult ( for me ) than working in the shop .
The way to make a fortune is to start out with a larger one .
No really , the money just isn't there , if you want to make a living at it ,plan on long hours , 6-7 day work weeks , and a .030 mistake could cost you everything , if not caught . If caught it'll just cost you time , parts .
Good luck

 

[shortgrass]

Gotta agree with LS above.

There's just not much money to be made by a new 'smith with no reputation or following, and a big upfront starting cost unless all you plan on doing is mounting and boresighting scopes.

It's a bad combination of plug-n-play guns, and a shooting populace that either thinks they can watch a YouTube video to do the work themselves, or will just throw a gun away to buy a new one.

A lot of new firearms are almost "disposable" that way, at a price point where it doesn't make sense to work on or fix them.

At the other end of the scale, a lot of BR shooters either do their own work, or have somebody they already use and trust, making it very hard for the casual small town guy to break in to the field.

Despite having a bunch of like-minded individuals on a forum like this where we talk custom stuff all day long, the vast majority of the shooting public won't pay what a good gunsmith's time is worth.

Nothing personal, but lots of guys who "work on all my buddies' guns" think they can just hang a sign on their garage, go into business, and will be backlogged with work. The reality is that if you either aren't willing, or don't have the time, to take a full blown course, and then spend time interning while you hone your skills along with building your name and credentials, you are going to find it very difficult to even pay the bills, let alone make a living. There's a huge difference between a hobby and a career.

Cold Bore said a 'mouth full', there. Hang a sign out and you might get backlogged,,,, with junk that you should have passed on, but took on for cash flow and groceries! Takes time to become a known, quality barrel fitter. And, even though this IS a rifle forum, there's much more to gunsmithing than rifle work and doing repairs that just require changing/installing parts. Ggma has it right, too,,,, more money and less liability for plumbers. Good Luck!

 

[Ggmac]

You have some good feedback , but dreams have a way of full filing themselves . If you want a decent living in the trade , come up with a tool , gadget as I call them , that will improve the accuracy potential , reload procedure , sighting errors ,etc . That is where the $ is . Look at any shooters workbench , compared to 20 yrs ago , a fortune is sitting there .
Magic bore prep , magic bullet lube , better scales , easy adjust scope bases , you get the idea .

If you do become one , document everything . Pictures of the piece before , during , after . Be ready for ,"well it wasn't like that before " and " how much ? All you got to do is " sorry , stole that line .
Gary

 

[DaveTooley]

If you're married I hope your wife has a good job, a very good job. Mine did. I shot short range BR while learning and running my day time company which paid for most of my equipment. Then I would work in the shop evenings and weekends until I couldn't feel my legs any longer. Then go shoot some more. Once going full time I didn't make more than walking around for probably 5 years. We drank a lot of cheap wine sitting on the curb raising kids in the street because we couldn't afford to do anything. Plan on no profit, as in zero, for at least 2-3 years. Also learn to say "I'm sorry I can't help you".

 

[Cold Bore]

Also learn to say "I'm sorry I can't help you".

Wise words right there, though very hard for some people to do.

 

[savagedasher]

Gun smiths are the only trade that guarantees all others parts be perfect . Larry

 

[Biggabe]

Gerbil I started gunsmithing over 30 years ago mainly because I could actually do better work then the "gunsmiths" working on the stuff I gave them. Started working on my own stuff, then like you stated working on friends guns, then friends of friends ect. Read allot of books, was able to work with a smith for several years. Living in a small farming community I got allot of old stuff that was a real pain to work on. Started to do allot of gunstocks, refinishing, checkering ect and have now switched totally over to stockwork. Working shift work I did all this on the side keeping my regular job. That helped with the health insurance and when the gun work was slow I still had an income. Now in my retirement I can pick and choose what I want to work on. Just remember come deer season you will be swamped and other months it could be far and few between. Gabe

 

[X Ring Accuracy]

Whew, quite the question......
The biggest thing I would do differently would understand that advertising is just as important and knowing how to do it. Having your job until you get over-run with work is smart too. When you go full time, plan to spend ALOT on advertising online. Schools are great but nothing teaches better than OJT. Read all you can. Putting words from a book into thoughts, then doing isn't hard, just practice does make perfect. More than one way to skin a cat too, remember that. One thing I did, as mentioned, was go to all the local gun shops and offer our services. Some will toss your card in the trash, some will smile and shake your hand but patience pays. We now do work for a dozen big gun shops from being the one who can versus the other gunsmiths who think they can and mess something up. We were the fix it guys and it paid off. A lot of hackers out there that profess to be "smiths" so cleaning up behind them pays big dividends. We now pick and choose but it has been a long road. Go to a local range if you have one. Go shoot, be part of the range activities, if asked about your rifle, ammo, etc be polite but knowledgable. Many guys at the range seek some direction but don't know who to ask so pay attention. The ranges all have their resident know it alls so don't step on their toes, LOL. Keep bus cards on hand, do small jobs, the word gets around. We have built record setting rifles for shooters at ranges and that helps in the reputation dept no doubt. Start doing guns shows.......weekends packing it up, hoping to get some interest, many times no sale......BUT you got out your info and they do come back around, sometimes years later but they do. We goofed on the advertising as it IS VERY EXPENSIVE but worth it. We are slammed now from word of mouth, referalls, gun shops in the area and customers who we have built 6-10 rifles for over time. This has taken a long time. Reputation rules. It won't be quick unless you have piles of money. And finally, you will be competing with guys who have CNC this and CNC that. Another example......bedding. It is easy peasy. Do it 10 times for yourself, learn all the tricks before you put it out there. Customers WILL take their rifle apart to look at the bedding. If it doesn't look like the stuff online, they bash you. The machining part is simple if your a machinist, it is either right or f&$ked up, no in between. Coatings....it better look perfect or again, you get bashed. Point is, whatever you let out of your shop better be perfect. THEN the reputation starts building. Be wary also of the once in a blue moon customer who is never happy regardless of what you do......cheerfully refund their money even though you know they are an idiot and what you did is correct. Whew

 

[Gerbil boy]

Thanks for the help everyone. I am asking because I am planning on leaving the mechanic field ( I am a heavy equipment to small engine mechanic at my current job and it's getting too hard on me to continue) and going into farming full time. I currently work 60hrs a week at my mech job and then help my father with the farming operations (we farm over 1000 acres just between the 2 of us). The gunsmith project would be a side job. I understand it's not going to be a jump in and make a killing type of ordeal. There is a lull in small grain farming in the winter and summer and I've been tossing the idea of gunsmithing during these times. I've got several friends that are deeply rooted in the shooting community and can help get word out. My local gunsmith buddies are swamped and backed up 6 months+ for work. There is a need for another gunsmith in this area as we've had 2 pass away and a couple pretty much retire.

 

[matthias]

As a working gunsmith I can tell you there is no seasonal work. It is either all the time or not. If people have to wait till winter will just keep bugging you. Just be assured you are never done with smithing , you retire when you die because everyone wants guns fixed or fixed up.

 

[ab_bentley]

Gunsmith starter pack:
Ramen noodles
1$ bills
Understanding wife
No kids
No friends (or very few)

That learning to say no thing is paramount, don't consume yourself with work or you'll hate this job just like the one you left. Tools don't cost you money, they make you money. Last but not least don't be shy with your talents and faults, it's your reputation and you need to know what you're good at, and what you're not.

Adam

 

[Eddie Harren]

Gunsmith starter pack:
Ramen noodles
1$ bills
Understanding wife
No kids
No friends (or very few)

That learning to say no thing is paramount, don't consume yourself with work or you'll hate this job just like the one you left. Tools don't cost you money, they make you money. Last but not least don't be shy with your talents and faults, it's your reputation and you need to know what you're good at, and what you're not.

Adam

Pure scripture from a Master of the craft!

 

[ab_bentley]

Pure scripture from a Master of the craft!

Sometimes I wish we were sitting next to each other, just so i could express my feelings to you.

 

[Eddie Harren]

Sometimes I wish we were sitting next to each other, just so i could express my feelings to you.

Careful there big boy. I'm a happily married man.
You've never impressed me as being someone who had trouble expressing himself.
I think you hit the nail on the head with your reply to the OP. There, feel better?

 

[shortgrass]

Thanks for the help everyone. I am asking because I am planning on leaving the mechanic field ( I am a heavy equipment to small engine mechanic at my current job and it's getting too hard on me to continue) and going into farming full time. I currently work 60hrs a week at my mech job and then help my father with the farming operations (we farm over 1000 acres just between the 2 of us). The gunsmith project would be a side job. I understand it's not going to be a jump in and make a killing type of ordeal. There is a lull in small grain farming in the winter and summer and I've been tossing the idea of gunsmithing during these times. I've got several friends that are deeply rooted in the shooting community and can help get word out. My local gunsmith buddies are swamped and backed up 6 months+ for work. There is a need for another gunsmith in this area as we've had 2 pass away and a couple pretty much retire.

You about have to be available year round. Only the 'slugs' wait 'till the last minute to get their deer rifle fixed/rebarreled at the last minute. I've had guys ask me, a week before season opens, if I can rebarrel their rifle for them before season opens. It's all I can do to keep from laughing out load.

 

[savagedasher]

Thanks for the help everyone. I am asking because I am planning on leaving the mechanic field ( I am a heavy equipment to small engine mechanic at my current job and it's getting too hard on me to continue) and going into farming full time. I currently work 60hrs a week at my mech job and then help my father with the farming operations (we farm over 1000 acres just between the 2 of us). The gunsmith project would be a side job. I understand it's not going to be a jump in and make a killing type of ordeal. There is a lull in small grain farming in the winter and summer and I've been tossing the idea of gunsmithing during these times. I've got several friends that are deeply rooted in the shooting community and can help get word out. My local gunsmith buddies are swamped and backed up 6 months+ for work. There is a need for another gunsmith in this area as we've had 2 pass away and a couple pretty much retire.

With your background guns will be easy .
Mechanic
Now if you had said auto tech I wouldn't of responded positve .
Good luck Larry